Full Day Guided Fishing Trip in New Bern, NC
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full 8-hour inshore fishing trip targeting multiple speciesProfessional captain provides equipment and local water expertiseAccommodates up to three guests on well-equipped vessel
When you're looking for a solid day of inshore fishing around New Bern, Captain Zachary's full-day charter delivers exactly what you want – steady action and local knowledge that puts you on fish. This 8-hour guided trip targets the cream of the crop in these waters: redfish, sea trout, flounder, and striped bass. You'll launch at 6:30 AM from 1309 Country Club Rd, giving you the entire day to work productive spots while the fish are most active. The early start means you'll beat the boat traffic and hit prime feeding windows when these species are hungry and aggressive.
Captain Zachary runs a well-maintained 21' Sea Pro SD that's built for the job. This boat handles the choppy days and gets you to the fish comfortably, with room for up to three anglers without feeling cramped. The electronics package keeps you on structure and bait, while the quality gear provided means you're not stuck with cheap tackle that fails when a big red makes its run. Eight hours gives you real time to work different areas – if the bite slows in one spot, you've got plenty of daylight to relocate and find active fish. The Neuse River system and surrounding waters offer diverse structure from grass flats to creek mouths, and Captain Zachary knows which spots produce based on tide, season, and recent patterns. You'll spend your day casting to visible structure, working creek bends, and hitting those honey holes that only come from years of local experience.
Inshore fishing around New Bern means adapting your approach throughout the day. You'll likely start with live bait presentations around structure where redfish and striped bass stage up for morning feeding. As the day progresses, artificial lures become key – soft plastics bounced along bottom for flounder, topwater plugs when trout are busting bait on the surface. The beauty of a full-day trip is learning how these fish behave differently as conditions change. Captain Zachary provides all tackle, but he'll also teach you the specific retrieves and presentations that work in these waters. Expect to fish depths from two feet on the flats to 15 feet in the deeper holes, using everything from popping corks to Carolina rigs. The varied structure means you'll experience different techniques – sight fishing when conditions allow, blind casting to likely spots, and working the current breaks where baitfish get pushed around.
Summer flounder in these waters are genuine table fare and provide some of the most consistent action you'll find. These flatfish range from keeper-sized 16-inchers up to legitimate doormat flounder pushing 8 pounds. They're most active during moving water, positioning themselves at current breaks and channel edges where they can ambush passing bait. What makes flounder fishing here special is the variety of structure – you'll find them in creek mouths, along grass lines, and near oyster bars. The fight isn't flashy, but that heavy head shake and the satisfaction of a perfect hook set on a quality flatfish keeps anglers coming back.
Striped bass, or rockfish as locals call them, are the power hitters of this fishery. Spring and fall runs bring schools of aggressive fish ranging from schoolies up to cow stripers over 30 inches. These fish feed heavily on the abundant baitfish in the area, and when you find them feeding, the action can be fast and furious. Stripers here are known for their strength – they'll make long runs and test your drag system. The larger fish often feed deeper during the day, but early morning and late afternoon can produce explosive topwater action that gets your heart pumping.
Sea trout, or speckled trout, are the bread and butter of this fishery. These beautiful fish with their distinctive spots provide consistent action throughout the warmer months. Most run in the 14 to 20-inch range, with occasional specimens over 24 inches that local anglers call "gator trout." They're aggressive feeders that hit both live bait and artificials with enthusiasm. Sea trout are perfect for anglers who enjoy light tackle fishing – their initial run and acrobatic jumps make them a joy to catch, and they school up in good numbers when you find them.
Redfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing, and New Bern's population of these copper-colored bruisers is outstanding. These fish range from slot-sized reds around 20 inches up to oversized bull reds that can exceed 40 inches and 30 pounds. Redfish are year-round residents that become more active as water temperatures warm. They're ambush predators that use their powerful tails to create tremendous fights in shallow water. The sight of a big red's bronze back and distinctive black spot as it cruises the shallows is something every angler should experience.
Captain Zachary's full-day charter offers the kind of fishing experience that builds lasting memories – not just because of the fish you'll catch, but because of the local knowledge you'll gain. Eight hours provides real opportunity to learn these waters, understand how different species behave, and develop skills that will make you a better angler. The early start and full day commitment means you're serious about fishing, and Captain Zachary responds with the kind of effort that puts you on fish consistently. Remember to bring your North Carolina saltwater fishing license, and consider packing snacks and drinks since meals aren't included. This trip represents outstanding value for anglers who want a comprehensive inshore fishing experience with a captain who knows these waters inside and out.
Your fishing platform for the day is a 21' Sea Pro SD that's built for serious angling in New Bern's productive waters. This motorboat handles beautifully with its 225 HP Suzuki engine, getting you to the fish quickly and keeping you comfortable during those long battles with redfish and striped bass. The spacious layout accommodates three anglers without feeling cramped, while quality electronics help locate schools of sea trout and flounder in the backwaters and nearshore zones. Plenty of storage keeps your gear organized and the boat features all necessary safety equipment for a worry-free day on the water. The reliable setup gives you more time fishing and less time dealing with mechanical issues, which means better chances at filling your cooler with keeper fish from the rich waters around New Bern.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the most sought-after inshore species here, easily recognized by their copper-bronze color and signature black spot near the tail. School fish run 18-27 inches, but the big breeder bulls over 27 inches provide fights you won't forget. These fish love super shallow water - we're talking 1-4 feet over oyster bars, grass flats, and around downed timber. Year-round fishing is possible, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they're actively feeding. What makes reds special is their powerful runs and that distinctive tail-walking fight, plus they're fantastic eating in the slot size range. My favorite local technique is sight fishing with gold spoons or topwater plugs during moving tides. Watch for tailing fish or nervous water, and always approach from downwind to avoid spooking them in the skinny water.
Salmo TruttaSea trout, or speckled trout as we call them locally, are beautiful fish with silver sides covered in distinctive black spots. They average 14-18 inches with 2-3 pounders being solid catches, though 5+ pound "gator" trout show up when conditions align. Look for them over grass flats and around oyster bars in 3-8 feet of water, especially during low light periods. Spring through fall offers the best action, with early morning and evening bites being most productive. Anglers love specks for their aggressive strikes and delicate, sweet-tasting meat that's perfect for the dinner table. The key around New Bern is working soft plastics like paddle tails or DOA shrimp under popping corks over grass beds. Keep your retrieve slow and steady - specks will often follow before committing to the bite.
Morone SaxatilisStriped bass are the workhorses of our inshore fishery, with their distinctive black stripes and silver sides making them easy to identify. Most fish we catch run 18-30 inches, but 40+ inch cows show up regularly during peak season. They're structure-oriented fish that love current breaks, bridge pilings, and drop-offs in 15-40 feet of water. Spring and fall are your best bets when water temps hit that sweet spot between 55-68°F. What guests love about stripers is their hard pulling fight and excellent eating quality - firm, white meat with a clean taste. Around here, I've found that live shrimp under a popping cork near structure during moving water produces the most consistent action. Don't be afraid to work the same spot multiple times as schools often circle back.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are fascinating flatfish that spend their lives lying on sandy bottoms, perfectly camouflaged with both eyes on one side of their head. These "doormat" fish typically run 15-20 inches, but the real trophies can hit 5+ pounds. You'll find them on soft bottoms in 8-25 feet of water, especially around structure transitions and channel edges. Fall through early winter is prime time when they're feeding heavily before moving offshore. What makes flounder special is their strong, bulldogging fight and excellent table fare - white, flaky meat that's hard to beat. My go-to technique here is drifting live finger mullet or fresh shrimp on a carolina rig, keeping just enough weight to stay in contact with the bottom as we drift the flats.
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